This’ll be all jumbled up, but I really don’t feel like doing organized paragraphs tonight. I usually have dinner early but I just got back from Where The Wild Things Are with my mom, and only got to eat a few minutes ago. My tummy don’t like it, that fo sho.

Speaking of Where The Wild Things Are, wowza! I didn’t expect that at all. I was very thrilled, from start to finish, and was quite amused at how the director interpreted the, what, 20-page book(?) into an entire awesome film. It was genius. I really loved it, and I was already expecting a lot ever since I first heard about the movie. It’s one of my most cherished books so it was only right to expect a lot, right? Well, this is a first: finally, a movie that had exceeded my already high expectations.

I was supposed to drive up to the Rockies for the fall break with friends, but decided to stay home instead. It was fun, actually. I got to write a lot, work on a few drafts for WellWire, and prepare for the busy school week ahead.

This week was a huge sound trip for me, too. Paolo sent me really awesome tracks from random indie acts, most of which I haven’t heard before. Watched a bit of Punk in London ’77 and reminisced as if I was actually there to witness it all (the 70s, hands down, is my favorite era for rock). Got some great Sonic Youth (and solo Thurston Moore) tracks, again from Paolo, and organized all my chick rock tracks into one comprehensive playlist for some great femme tunage. My iPod is having the best musicgasm ever, that’s for sure.

The only thing that I’m a bit bummed about is that I’m totally being complacent about my recreational reading. I know that the week has been by far the busiest week ever, but I hate making excuses when it comes to my books. I’m on it, though. I won’t sleep tonight without reading at least 3 chapters off of Dracula.

I watched High School Musical 3 this afternoon. I heart you Zac Efron (and your unbelievable biceps and abs… they make me shed tears of joy).

It has been almost exactly a month since I joined the WellWire team as a writer, and so far, it’s been awesome. Aside from the fact that I get to write about my biggest passion, I’ve met the most amazing people who are not just super topnotch in their field, but they’re probably the most fun physicians and health care practitioners I’ve ever encountered in the wonderful world of Health 2.0. For instance, if ever you catch us in what Dr. Nishant lovingly calls Virtual Coffee, which are basically our conference calls via Skype to discuss projects and updates, it’s just like hanging out with your friends in a coffee shop, with the added bonus of being productive in the process.

WellWire is largely known for its daily articles and health-inspired Twitter updates, but this week, we’ve decided to rock the wonderful world of Facebook and connect more closely to our followers. So far, it’s been really fun, and I often find myself glued to the computer, waiting for the next update. We had just started using the Discussions tab on our Facebook page, and the feedback has been wonderful. Here’s a little teaser, if you haven’t checked it out yet, or if you haven’t joined – which you must do after reading this post, by the way. Deal? Alright!

Experiences With Food AllergiesInspired by this article, WellWire Facebook fans have been discussing personal experiences and success with having their children (or themselves) properly diagnosed for food allergies. Different methods of testing, such as the MRT and comprehensive blood testing, are also discussed. Pretty informative, if you ask me.

Breast Cancer Awareness TipsOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we’ve been talking about this article by Dr. Carrieon how to properly feel for those lumps (or non-lumps). What I love about the discussion on Facebook right now is that they mentioned getting your boyfriends and husbands in the mix of breast self-examination. Intriguing, right? Join the discussion and find out what that‘s all about.

Staying Healthy This Cold and Flu SeasonForget Over-the-Counter sneeze quenchers or flu symptom relievers. Have you heard of wei qi? It’s what the Chinese consider the energy system that protects our body from disease. Read this article to learn more about your protective qi. This discussion on Facebook has got to be my favorite one so far, since it’s very timely and informative. I really encourage everyone to check this out.

Another super fun addition to the WellWire Facebook page is the Day In The Life photo series of WellWire authors.

This week, we are featuring co-founder Dr. Igor Schwartzman. Here, he hangs out with his dogs, and beautiful daughter Selene. Click on the image to check out more Day In The Life photos.

If you haven’t heard the news yet, my homeland, the Philippines was severely hit by a typhoon (tropical storm Ketsana) last Saturday, 26 September. I have family and a lot of friends back home who were terribly affected by the floods, and I feel very helpless being here when all I want is to book the next flight to Manila and help rebuild homes and lives.

But instead of recoiling in defeat, I’m trying my best to get the word out through my blogs, Twitter and Facebook, and I hope you can help, too. I am reposting the following list of avenues through which we can help from thousands of miles away. Please take the time to read this post, and perhaps if you find a convenient way to help out, it will be so greatly appreciated. Any amount will do — $5 can buy more than a dozen water bottles and even more canned goods.

Please help spread the word. Thank you and may God bless all.

Karla

***

Reposting Letter from Fr. Manoling: International Donations for the Victims of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)

The other day, Typhoon Ondoy unleashed the heaviest rainfall in the Philippines in the past forty years (34.1 cm., one-month’s worth of rain, in Metro Manila in just six hours), submerging 80% of MM under water and placing 27 provinces under a state of calamity. The NDCC reports damage to infrastructure at P108M; Agri. Sec. Yap estimates damage to crops at half a billion pesos. Casualties have breached a hundred (many remain missing), and almost half a million people have been displaced.

For those who wish to help our kababayans affected by Ondoy, you may send checks through the following:

Today, I look back just like I would at the end of each year, enumerating year-end (or in this case, season-end) realizatons, both significant and trivial. Autumn feels like a new beginning, much like a brand new year, when most activities center on getting kids ready for the new school year. New notebooks, new clothes, new pencils, new classmates, new teachers… everything just feels so fresh.

We’re only a little over halfway through the year, but I can’t help but feel that it’s about time 2009 bids us all that much awaited adieu. Of course, it may be different for you, but if there’s one thing that stood out for me this year, it was death.

Sure, people die each year, but death seems so much more provocative this year. It could’ve been heavily influenced by the media, but I was left shocked and speechless from one obituary to the next, which rarely happens to me.

Do you also feel that? Maybe not. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m being melodramatic. Of course deaths are supposed to be sudden. Well, not in my book. Not in that way, at least. Not because of possible foul play, suicide, and worst of all, murder.

It’s officially autumn tomorrow, and from its seeds of newness, I wish to cultivate the fruit of second chances. Of hope. Of life. I’m not running away from the shittiness of yesterday. I would still look back disconsolately but from now on, without letting it bog down my spirit. Here’s to autumn. Here’s to new life.

About

I'm a student, perpetually parched for knowledge particularly in the physical sciences. I'm an advocate for animal welfare, a self-confessed tree hugger and aspiring warrior for a sustainable, healthy and happy Earth. I'm largely inclined to the philosophies of Reason, Science, and Evolution; but when all else fails, I hold on to Love and Gratitude and nothing else, as these, to me, hold the key to genuine happiness and fullness of life. Learn more about me here and here.